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Under the AODA Integrated Accessibility Standards, "designated public sector organizations shall incorporate accessibility criteria and features when procuring or acquiring goods, services, or facilities, except where it is not practicable to do so."  The regulation also specifies that self-serve kiosks purchased after January 1, 2013 must incorporate accessibility features.  If it is not practicable to incorporate accessibility criteria and features into the good, service or facility you are purchasing, you are required to provide an explanation upon request.

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Disability:

• Any degree of physical disability, infirmity, malformation or disfigurement
• A condition of mental impairment or a developmental disability
• A learning disability or a dysfunction in one or more of the processes involved in understanding or using symbols or spoken language
• A mental disorder
• An injury or disability for which benefits were claimed or received under the insurance plan established under the Workplace Safety & Insurance Act, 1997

The definition includes disabilities of different severity, visible as well as non-visible disabilities, and disabilities the effects of which may come and go.

Accessibility:

A general term used to describe the degree of ease that something (eg. device, service, environment) can be used and enjoyed by persons with a disability. The term implies conscious planning, design and/or effort to ensure it is barrier free to persons with a disability, and by extension, highly usable and practical for the general population as well.

Barrier:

Anything that prevents a person with a disability from fully participating in all aspects of society because of his or her disability, including a physical barrier, an architectural barrier, an information or communications barrier, an attitudinal barrier, a technological barrier, a policy or a practice.

Goods:

1. Can the good be used by someone:
   1. In a seated position?
   2. Using one hand, with limited upper body strength, or limited fine motor skills?
   3. With vision loss or low vision?
   4. With hearing loss?
2. Can the product be used to meet a variety of needs?
3. Are support materials, such as manuals and training or service calls, available in accessible formats at no additional charge?
4. Does it work with common assistive technologies?

Services:

1. Does the firm provide accessible customer service, as required under the Customer Service Standard?
2. Can the service provider accommodate the needs of people of all abilities? For example, if you are hiring someone to conduct research, do their surveys and interviews accommodate people with different types of disabilities?
3. Will the company use accessible signage, audio and/or print materials? For example, if you are hiring an event coordinator, will they use high contrast signage for the event?

Facilities:

1. Can someone using a mobility aid, like a wheelchair or walker, get around the facility?
2. Are signs placed at an accessible height?
3. Does the facility have emergency procedures to assist people with disabilities?
4. Can someone with a disability use the facility as quickly and easily as a person without a disability?